The proposed location for the third urban oasis, which is a part of the Urban Oases program implemented through a cooperation between the EUNIC network Serbia and the Faculty of Forestry of the University of Belgrade, is situated within the already existing green space, in the Arboretum of the Faculty of Forestry, in Banovo Brdo. The protected area – the natural monument of the Arboretum of the Faculty of Forestry with its numerous autochthonous and exotic species of trees, nursery garden, greenhouse and the Healing Garden, is an ideal place for walking and learning about nature. As part of the Urban Oases project, a new place for meetings and events is being created, with the aim of acquainting as many visitors as possible with the Arboretum, and making them regular visitors of this space.
Under the mentorship of their professors, master’s students of the Faculty of Forestry designed the Summer Classroom in the form of a small amphitheatre in nature, reached via thematic trails intended to acquaint visitors with the fauna: honey trail, bird trail and squirrel trail. Sofija Plavšić and Anja Rakonjac, master’s students at the Department of Wood Technologies of the Faculty of Forestry, designed the summer classroom, as well as mobile cafes and houses for the living world in the Arboretum, using natural materials such as wood and stone, as well as recycled materials. Nastasja Latković and Svetlana Đurić, students at the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture, designed the thematic trails and rain gardens for collecting and purifying atmospheric water, with the help of selected types of plants.
The summer classroom project is implemented within the Urban Oases program, and with the help of cultural centres and embassies of the EU countries, which, in addition to financing part of the costs of building the amphitheatre and accompanying animal houses, have also been facilitating the visits of foreign and domestic experts and artists to revive the new urban oasis of Arboretum with programmatic activities. The Urban Oases program includes holding events such as lectures on topics from the field of ecology and nature conservation, as well as concerts and talks, which will bring together visitors of all generations, students and experts. It is planned to host the artists who will paint parts of the facades along the trails, with the help of students and other interested parties.
